Since every creative work, be it in architecture, design, painting or literature, is usually marked by many revisions, changes and corrections in the process up to the final stage, the Centre national de littérature in Luxembourg set out on a search for these corrections. An exhibition was created to document such “traces” in different literary works, translating them into systematic categorisation. It shows the works of the authors in their struggle of finding the right words and forming them into the right sentences. The exhibition displays feature one original work each for visitors to look at and explore through a tiny window serving as a magnifying glass. The exhibition catalogue in 24 x 30 cm format comprises 400 pages and is bilingual, covering German and French. The design conveys the exhibition concept of presenting original works through coloured notes of paper inserted into the pages. Readers thus have the feeling of holding an original work in their hands.

Statement by the jury

This exhibition catalogue adopts an air of the provisional to invite readers into the intimate thoughts and minds of the authors. It makes clear that the individual literary works are strongly influenced by the authors’ environments. As exciting as the topic itself, the outstanding design of the catalogue convinces with a beautiful materiality and an open stitch binding that leaves the spine of the book visible.